EXPERT ADVICE

12 Best Private Planes You Can Buy Now

Embraer Phenom 100

8 of 12

Price: $4.04 million

Available: Since 2008

Range: 1,178 nautical miles

What do you get in a so-called "entry-level" jet? Twin turbofans capable of 390-knot speeds, a fully enclosed lavatory, a large (class-leading, in fact) BMW-designed cabin with a built-in wardrobe for accessible storage, and seating for up to eight – though two crew members up front and four passengers facing each other limousine-style is standard. The Embraer Phenom 100 is a model example of the recent (by aviation standards) Very Light Jet, or VLJ, category, which bridges the world of turboprops and bigger, more traditional jets. Still, if you're buying a VLJ, there's very little chance you're the one flying it. [embraerexecutivejets.com]